Halina Reijn’s Babygirl is a daring, intoxicating exploration of desire, repression, and feminine power, making it a standout entry in modern romance films.
Starring Nicole Kidman in what may very well be one of her most courageous performances, alongside Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas, the film takes the familiar framework of the ’90s sexual thriller and reinvents it from a female perspective, creating something that is both wickedly provocative and richly emotional.
At its heart is Romy, a high-powered CEO navigating the unwieldy dualities of her existence. Played masterfully by Nicole Kidman, this is Romy’s story—an intricate portrait of a woman grappling with her refined public identity versus her untamed, internal desires.
The story launches with energy and allure as Romy enters a forbidden love affair with her younger intern (played with puckish charisma by Dickinson). Their chemistry is instantly magnetic—an undeniable, smoldering connection that unfolds in a deliciously tense cat-and-mouse game. We are seduced right alongside Romy, acknowledging the danger of their pairing while rooting for them anyway.
This isn’t “just” lust—it’s consuming, messy, and, above all, romantic. The film wisely underlines how repression fuels Romy’s need to pursue the forbidden. She teeters on the edge of telling her husband the desires she has buried beneath years of societal expectations, but to do so would risk unraveling her meticulously constructed image. “Something has to be at stake for me to love sex,” she confesses, and therein lies the power of Babygirl: the battle between desire and shame.
Reijn’s direction captures not just the tension of Romy’s predicament but also her humanity, presenting her as both fractured and deeply relatable. Kidman makes every moment electric, bringing back shades of the morally complex, tightly-wound characters she portrayed in Eyes Wide Shut and Birth. Her conflict feels universal, a pointed reminder of the pressures placed on women to compartmentalize their desires to fit the mold of what is “acceptable.”
Reijn handles this material with exceptional care, ensuring that the power dynamics between the intern and the CEO never feel exploitative, but rather critical to the story’s feminist lens. There is vindication in seeing Romy defy conventions, gaining what she wants rather than shrinking under the weight of judgment. This isn’t a cautionary tale—it’s an exploration of how love and lust can coexist with ambition and control. The script leans into playfulness at surprising moments, which softens the edges of traditional power dynamics and adds depth to the characters while still delivering on its simmering eroticism.
Set against a backdrop of sleek New York interiors and peppered with a sensual, pulsing score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, the film’s aesthetics are as polished as Romy herself. Yet, beyond its glossy exteriors, Babygirl isn’t afraid to get messy. It probes existential questions with passion and depth—are we animals or civilized beings? Can we reconcile the two within ourselves? And ultimately, can we love our whole selves, imperfections included?
What makes Babygirl truly special is how it reclaims the narrative of the sexual thriller. Reijn doesn’t just revisit the genre’s tropes; she refracts them through a female gaze, creating a story no longer about the consequences of carnal desire but about its complexity, its humanity, and its beauty. This is still an unapologetic love story—one full of heat, conflict, and undeniable passion. Its boldness and conviction make it clear that this is a romance to be celebrated.
Whether you’re here to bask in Kidman’s tour-de-force performance, get caught up in the racy thrills, or revel in an unconventional tale of liberation, Babygirl delivers wholeheartedly. It’s a daring declaration of the power of female desire and a shout out to anyone who’s tried to reconcile passion with perfection. One thing’s for sure—you’ll fall as hard for this film as Romy does for her intern.
MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 114 mins
Director: Halina Reijn
Writer: Halina Reijn
Cast: Nicole Kidman; Harris Dickinson; Antonio Banderas
Genre: Romance | Drama
Tagline: This Christmas Get Exactly What You Want.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I think you like to be told what to do."
Theatrical Distributor: A24
Official Site: https://a24films.com/films/babygirl
Release Date: December 25, 2024
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern.
